Former lifeguard to be honored at Tower Zero dedication

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- A well-loved resident will be honored for a

lifetime of achievement during the dedication of the recently completed

Tower Zero.

Max Bowman, 63, has been at the forefront of life-guarding since he

began his career in Huntington Beach in 1954. He worked his way up the

ranks to director of the city’s Community Services Department in 1984

until he retired in 1990. He was one of two to be conferred as a grand

knight in 1994 in the Order of Life Saving by the International Life

Saving Federation.

“He led by example,” said Bill Richardson, a retired marine safety

captain.

Richardson worked for Bowman for more than 30 years as a lifeguard and

remembers that Bowman wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do

too.

“He impressed me the very first time I met him,” Richardson said. “He

was captain, but he was down there doing grunt work.”

Bowman was instrumental in designing the original Tower Zero in 1963.

He helped to build it with city staff.

Besides the tower, Bowman, along with Vince Moorehouse, created the

Junior Lifeguard Program in 1964 with 10 boys. At his daughter’s

prompting, he changed the program rules to allow girls to participate.

Today, the popular program has about 1,000 youngsters.

“He keeps Huntington Beach on the map,” said Marine Safety Officer

Mike Bartlett, president of the Huntington Beach Surf Life Saving Assn.

“He also wanted to get lifesaving on the page.”

Bowman’s dedication and commitment to the beach again surfaced when he

helped the city retain control of the 2.5 miles of beach north of the

pier in 1987.

“When I think of my dad and Tower Zero and the beach, I think not only

locally but all over the world,” said Bowman’s daughter, Lori Fernandez.

Bowman is a charter member of the local, regional, national and world

branches of the Life Saving Assn. On the latter, he served as an

executive member from 1964 to 1995. He is also well-known in lifesaving

circles around the globe as an “ambassador to world lifesaving.”

Bowman has three children and seven grandchildren. His wife, Judith

Bowman, died in the EgyptAir Flight 990 crash in October. They had been

married nearly 40 years.

“It is the biggest loss in his life,” Richardson said. “A piece of his

heart died when she died.”

Though he’s been retired for 10 years, Bowman enjoys his work in

lifesaving and remains active in the state and national lifesaving

associations, keeping busy with several committees, public speaking and

public education.

At the ceremony, Bowman will receive a plaque that will hang in the

tower that credits him for his accomplishments and his wife for her

support.

FYI

The dedication ceremony for Lifeguard Tower Zero is scheduled for

10:30 a.m Wednesday on the Huntington Beach Pier at Tower Zero.